Spontaneoustion of the colon is a rare event. Only 14 instances have been described previously in the English literature.1-3 One of these patients,3 like those reported later, received long-term hemodialysis because of renal failure secondary to polycystic kidney disease.

Patient SummaryA 43-year-old white man was first found to have polycystic kidney disease in 1967, when he had hematuria and bilateral abdominal masses. His mother died of polycystic kidney disease at age 41; a sister also has polycystic kidney disease. His history, other than an appendectomy in 1950, was unremarkable.He first required peritoneal dialysis for uremia in November 1970 and again in February 1971. In March 1971, hemodialysis treatments were begun in preparation for cadaveric renal transplantation. Bilateral nephrectomy was performed on March 31, 1971. The kidneys were large but easily mobilized. No abnormalities of the left side of the colon were observed when it was retracted